Searching for Eden

The next day, the train had stopped in the city of Kyione. Though the stop was on route, the three hour delay wasn't. After the many complaints because the inconvenience, by the passengers, the head conductor gave all the passengers on board the opportunity to go sight seeing in the bustling city.

The first and third child used this opportunity to go out and get some food. Earlier, they tried to get some breakfast in the dinning car, but the two siblings were met with hostility from the other passengers. Because of the little scene they caused in the hallway, everyone on the train now knew of their forbidden relationship

Rei seemed unaffected by the harassment. Unfortunately, Shinji was not so lucky and he suggested, after the head conductor's announcement that they got off the train for a while.

Shinji and Rei walked down the busy streets. It was a newly made city, flourishing with prosperity, and was named after the mayor/founder's wife. This city was so different from Tokyo-3. There were so many people. The buildings were actually buildings and not armament storages. There were stores, actual stores! A lot of them... Everywhere!

Through the corner of his eye, the third child watched his sister walk beside but slightly in front of him.

Rei walked at a relaxed pace as she observed her surroundings. She didn't know what it was, but she felt refreshed being here. There were so many people around, bumping into her but not noticing her. She was just another face in the crowd. She loved it. Behind her tinted glasses, her eyes shimmered with curiosity and awe. Her head whipped side to side making the soft black hair of her wig fan around. Unlike Tokyo-3, everything seemed so bright here and everything seemed to demand her attention.

Rei knew the main reason for her new found fascination with her surroundings was because she was no longer under the influence of the little red pills she was always forced to take. She had stopped taking them over a week ago, and now her system was pretty much clear of those mind controlling downers. That fact both relieved her and frightened her.

Her fears stemmed from the fact that she didn't know life without the pills, *and* because there was a reason why she took those pills. That reason was the same reason she was created to be genetically weak. It was also the same reason they chose *her* to be the heart of the dummy plug system.

Rei pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present and her future. With her brother by her side, the first child wanted to experience life and think beyond the realms of NERV. She wanted to be happy... she knew she could be happy... as long as she was with Shinji.

Her not so subtle hints of happiness brought a smile to Shinji's lips. While living in Toyko-3, he had walked beside Rei a couple of times, and back then, she never seemed interested in anything. Her crimson eyes weren't lifeless, just disinterested. Almost as if she didn't care to explore new things.

Shinji was the same way, but his apathetic disposition resulted from his constant fear that he would die in the next battle, or fail and then everyone he ever cared about would die. Because of all the battles and the depression he wallowed in, he questioned the point of learning about something new when death could quite possibly keep him from perusing it.

When they arrived at an intersection, Rei spoke and pulled him away from his thoughts.

"Which direction would you like to go, oniisan?"

Shinji shrugged because it really didn't matter and he wasn't used to making his own decisions. For the past year, Asuka or Misato had been making them for him.

Rei was about to decide for them, but then opted to wait until he found the courage to decide and speak out.

The boy's eyes widened nervously when he realized that his imooto-chan was patiently waiting for his decision. "Umm... you chose..." please

"You're my elder brother. You chose." She answered calmly and respectfully.

Shinji tightly pressed his eyes shut, took a deep breath, and breathed out "Left..?"

The first child smiled warmly and turned to the left.

Surprised by her quick compliance, he stuttered out as he followed her closely. "W-we can go right if want..."

Rei glanced back at the boy. "Left is fine, Shinji."

The male pilot puffed his chest slightly and beamed a brilliant smile. He wasn't used to *not* getting his ideas shot down or getting his way so easily. He was liking it. He quickened his pace and walked right beside her. "So what do you want to eat?"

"Rice." Rei answered calmly.

"That's it?" Shinji couldn't believe that's all she really wanted.

that's all we can afford She nodded instead of verbally responding.

The boy turned his gaze toward one of the many food vendors on the street. "Mmmm.... that smells good. I think I want some of that." He pointed toward a shabby looking food booth at the end of the block.

The first child's brow furrowed when she looked at where Shinji wanted to eat. "I wouldn't recommend eating there, Shinji"

"Oh.. really? Why not?" He seemed disappointed.

Rei glanced at her brother with bewilderment. She couldn't understand why he couldn't see that what she saw. "It does not look sanitary."

The wooden booth was filthy. There wasn't a cooler or a fridge to keep the food fresh. The fish, the chicken, and the beef were all mixed together. It looked like a breeding ground for germs that cause food poisoning.

Inwardly, Shinji didn't agree with his companion. Misato had taken him to worse looking places to eat when she didn't want to cook on her night, but he let the conversation drop without argument. He gave one more longing glance at the booth before he decided to continue looking.

As they walked through the city they came upon a large commons area where people performed and made speeches. Some were singing, some of the orators were making speeches about various things (like god's wrath and the end of the world), there were mimes, people playing instruments, and food vendors everywhere. However, most of the people were just watching the spectacles displayed for them. It almost looked like a fair of some sort.

A smile tugged at the corners of Rei's mouth as she observed everything that was going on. This city was like nothing she had ever experienced before.

Shinji tugged on her shirt sleeve. "Rei-chan look over there." He pointed to a group of kids on the other side of the commons.

The first child's gaze followed the direction he was pointing at, and her eyes widened in surprise. In an isolated corner, the kids who Shinji pointed at had wild color hair. Some of them had brilliant green hair, some with pink hair, platinum yellow and a couple with ice blue hair like her own.

Her brow furrowed. "I-is.. that what I look like?" She hoped not. Those kids looked like freaks.

Shinji chuckled softly and shook his head no. Then kinda shrugged. "Well you do stand out... but..." he continued sheepishly. "But... your hair looks natural."

Rei wasn't sure whether his words were a compliment or not.

The colorful haired teens seemed to sense the fact that they were being observed by the pilots, and with an eerily precision, all of them turned in unison and glared back.

The pilot of unit 01 didn't notice. He had turned away a second before, and was now looking for a food booth that Rei would find suitable. Maybe we should live here Shinji suggested in a hopeful mental whisper. "Kyione seems like a really cool place to live." He hinted verbally.

Rei's slowly peeled her gaze away from the group of kids. She didn't know why, but those kids seemed....she wasn't sure, but before she could formulate an opinion, Shinji spoke and drew her attention from her thoughts. She shifted her gaze to her brother and nodded. "But...I have already set up all the provisions we would need in New Hakone."

Shinji blushed heavily. "Uhh..I wasn't ... I..mean... Gomen."

She gave him a warm smile and gently placed her hand in his. "It's ok Shinji. If you want to stay here, all you have to do is say 'yes. I doubt it would be hard for us to secure a place to live and job in such a city.'" I hope

He gave her a closed lip smile and nodded. "Yes. I think I want to live here." He tightened the grip on her hand. "I think we would be happy here." He gave an awed look at everything that was going on around them. So many people and no one seem to judge them or anyone else.

Rei smiled at Shinji's happy face and admitted. "I am happy... where you are."

The third child whipped his gaze toward his sister and stared at her with an intense happy expression. "Are you sure you don't mind...?"

Rei gave him an even warmer smile. Shinji's appreciative gaze was overwhelming her. It made her heart ache for him. When she felt her cheeks heating up, she quickly looked away and started to speak. "Location matters not to me... as long as we are together."

Shinji tightened his grip on her tiny hand and unconsciously pulled her closer to him. He was trying to physically resist the urge to kiss her, but was falling miserably until she said

"Oniisan, I think we should go and find a place to live before we do anything else." She mentally added. and anything you may regret She could feel herself being pulled closer to him. She could tell he wanted to disregard the rules he made for them last night.

oniisan That word always put Shinji back in his place. He nodded in agreement, but didn't let go of her hand. "Wanna ask around for a good place to live?"

She glanced back at him and nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 hour and 34minutes later

"I can't believe this is all we can afford!" Shinji growled as he pulled, with all his strength, to get their front door open.

Rei slid in through the small opening, took off her glasses and looked around the very small apartment. "My old apartment was worse."

Shinji sighed and gave up on getting the door completely open. He walked in and looked around. "I guess.... but I still think it cost too much." He noticed a roach on the floor and stepped on it.

Rei shrugged and walked over to the bathroom. She smiled when she noticed the bathtub. "I think I could like it here."

Shinji followed her into the small bathroom. It left much desired in the way of being clean and he wondered why the tub the seemed to please his imooto-chan so much. "Yuck! When was the last time that thing was cleaned."

Rei spun slowly on her heals and faced him "This city... is really expensive... and this is all we can afford, Shinji. However..." She grabbed his wrist and looked at his watch. "If you want, we can still go back to the train. We have time."

The boy scratched the back of his head with his other hand and was about to answer.

"So whadda think?"

The two teens turned their attention toward an old woman. She was the owner of the decrepit building. She looked dirty, her voice was haggard and rough, probably do to her obvious addiction to smoking. As she glared that the two children, had a cigarette placed behind her ear, one that was almost burned to the filter in her mouth and she was tapping on the pack in her hand getting ready to pull out the next one she was going to smoke.

The woman blew out a perfect ring of smoke and stared at them impatiently. "Well?"

Rei looked at her brother. Shinji fidgeted nervously before he finally answered. "I think.... we're going to keep looking."

"Ok kid!" The woman responded knowingly. "But you're not going to find a better deal. Especially with an apartment with a private bathroom at this price."

The male pilot bit his lip nervously and gave her back the keys. "Just the same... we are going to continue looking."

The woman snatched the key, turned and walked toward the partially open door. "Don't expect me to hold the apartment for you..... but go ahead an look.." She started to cackle "You'll be back!"

When she left, Shinji turned to Rei "If we run, I think we can get something to eat and still make it to the train"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

20 minutes later and not even 10minutes before the train was due to leave Kyione.

Shinji had his arm draped over Rei's shoulder. He was trying not to lean any of his weight on her, for he knew that she wouldn't be able to carry it.

"You were right" The boy groaned out painfully. "I shouldn't have eaten there."

"Please..." Rei huffed as she wrapped her arm around his waist in a futile attempt to make him move faster. "It doesn't matter if I was correct... We must hurry or the train will leave without us!"

Against Rei's gentle pushes, Shinji stopped "Ugh." and cursed his stupidity as he fought the urge to vomit.

Rei had not to eat there and she told him that the booth, he chose to eat at, was a breading ground for germs, but he didn't listen. And out of respect, because he was the elder, she didn't force him *not* to eat there.

Sweat beads graced the pilot's face and all over his body. Gawd he wished she would have hit that plate of tempura crab and shrimp out of his hand and forced him to eat rice just like she did. He should have known something was wrong with the food. Rei got her rice from a different booth, but it cost the same as his.

Shinji painfully groaned out. "I think I'm going to die....I hurt so bad."

His statement chilled her to soul and she stared fearfully into his dark blue eyes. "Please don't ever say that again." Rei wanted a life without NERV but she couldn't imagine it without Shinji.

"Sorry..." He guiltily whimpered out before he fell to his knees.

Rei fell with him. Not purposefully, it was just that he was holding onto her and she didn't have the physical strength to hold him up or keep from falling with him.

"Gomennasi," He groaned as he removed his hands from around her. Once he was on all fours, he painfully breathed out. "Rei...please.. move.. back"

The first child saw his face change from a pasty white to a pasty green and she quickly scooted back. Barely yet thankfully, she got out of the way before he vomited. There was so much... and it smell sooo bad and it went *everywhere*.

When he was finished, he curled up beside his mess and cried out painfully. Shinji could feel every muscle in his body constricting. His stomach was demanding to be emptied, it churned painfully and once again his body broke out in cold sweats.

Rei crawled behind him, took off his book bag, and laid his head on her lap as she soothingly ran her delicate fingers through his sweat soaked hair.

"I'm so sorry, Rei" the male pilot whimpered as he shivered. "We're not going to make it to the train...and its all my fault."

"It's ok, Shinji" She assured as she gently brushed his cheek and his jaw line with the back of her fingers. Then in a whisper she gently shushed him. "Its okay"

The first child barely noticed the multitude of people who walked past them. Who ignored them, avoided them like a plague, even though her brother looked deathly ill. Rei snorted softly and bitterly. She started to realize that's probably why they were avoided them; she didn't exactly looked healthy herself. Maybe they thought that they were contagious.

The first child absently looked up when she heard the train whistle blow. It was the announcement of its departure from the station. They were so close to making it; it made her wonder if this was where they were supposed to be, or maybe even... this was where they *should* be instead, of in New Hakone. Perhaps fate was helping them find their Eden... Perhaps the happiness they were searching for was in another large city where no one cared about them.

Rei looked down at her brother when he turned to lay on his other side. He shifted his head in her lap until his face was practically pressed against her flat stomach. Then with pained effort, he tightly wrapped his arms around her slender waist as he curled himself closer to her and in a fetal position. She could tell he was in terrible pain, but she knew it would pass. Rei also knew that in this city, where no one cared, they had each other. They cared for each other, and that it didn't matter where they lived....

"As long as we are together." She whispered lovingly as she gently and soothingly ran her finger through his hair.

Shinji heard her soft words and soulful statement, and despite the pain....he smiled. together...yes..as long as we're together.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I still don't own anything that belongs to Evangelion.

I would like to thank Lord Deathsythe and Random for helping cope through the wake of our country's tragedy. I know I told you before but... I don't know how I would have made it out your comforting words and your understanding I thank you so very much....

God please help the families of the victims. God please help us all as we mourn.

God bless America.

And If I may never have the opportunity to say this again....

I love ya lots.. I really really do

Kimberly